News & Media

Share

VA Maine Healthcare System Breaks Ground on New Fisher House

August 8, 2018

Dedicated to providing comfortable, supportive lodging to military, veterans and their families, Fisher House Foundation joined leadership from the VA Maine Healthcare System today to break ground for a 16-suite Fisher House to be built on the Togus campus.

Ground was broken by The Honorable Susan M. Collins, Congressman Bruce Poliquin, David Coker, president of Fisher House Foundation,Lawrence B. Connell, Chief of Staff of the Veterans Health Administration, and Ryan Lilly, Director of the VA Maine Healthcare System. This home will provide lodging for up to 16 families of veterans and military at no cost, allowing them to be close to their loved ones at the most stressful time – during hospitalization of a loved one.

The Fisher House will not only create an instant community for its residents, united by their common mission of supporting a sick or injured loved one, but also will provide each individual with a secure and private refuge after a long day at the hospital to rest and recharge.

The 16-suite, 13,500 sq.-ft. “comfort home” will join the other 75+ Fisher Houses operating in the United States and Europe and is anticipated to be completed in 2019. The home will be professionally designed and furnished. Each bedroom suite will come equipped with a private, handicapped-accessible bathroom. Common areas include a spacious kitchen, large communal living, dining and family rooms, laundry room and patio.

Construction of this Fisher House is supported by: Boston Fisher House and the Ruby W. & LaVon P. Linn Foundation.

“We are thrilled to expand the network of Fisher Houses to Maine,” said David Coker, president of Fisher House Foundation. “Availability of lodging can be a barrier to care, and Maine veterans deserve the best this country has to offer. This new Fisher House will serve our veterans and their families for years to come.”

“This is a wonderful improvement to the care delivery system for Maine Veterans and their families,” said Ryan Lilly, Director of the VA Maine Healthcare System.